Authors Notes: Okay, so the ball starts rolling in this chappy, and I warn you guys, the next starts out with lemony content. So yeah. Lol, I hope you guys like the chappy.
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Falls On Me
Chapter 7-The Gravity Of Love
The next morning Kagome awoke early and dressed at a leisurely pace with Mako's help. The kitsune was unusually quiet and that sparked Kagome's interest.
"Mako, what's going on?" Kagome asked after the kitsune fumbled for the seventh time while trying to tie the obi.
"N-nothing my Lady," Mako answered shakily as she finished tying off the long piece of silk.
"Mako, please tell me. I can help," Kagome said in a soothing voice.
"That's just it ma'am, it's got nothing to do with me! Your husband took a mistress last night!" Mako cried as she hugged her mistress. She had seen it herself, being called to Inu Yasha's room to bring sake. The hanyou had been naked, another Lady's servant had been laying in his bed.
Kagome felt tears gather in her eyes. Mako hugged her mistress tightly, praying she hadn't said the wrong thing. But the entire castle would know by the mid day meal and Kagome couldn't go out there and not know. It would be setting her up for humiliation.
"That is Inu Yasha's choice Mako. It doesn't matter," Kagome sniffled. "Thank you for telling me. Now I know…" Kagome trailed off.
Now she knew that nothing was going to go back to what it once was. It was the first time she realized that staying here might not be worth it. Maybe she could still go back to her own time and find a nice boy. She could even get caught up on school if she went to night school on top of high school.
And Shippou could come with her. She could escape this hellish world her reality had become.
"My Lady, it is time for us to go, or else you will be late for breakfast," Mako whispered. Kagome nodded and continued to form the plans in her head as she wiped her face free of tears. Certainly she would have to wait to see her godchildren. She would never forgive herself if she left before that. And maybe a few days after. It was only another month, she could endure.
Shippou and Rin woke up and Kagome told them to dress and play with Mako. The maid stayed behind as Kagome exited the room. Anei saw her and nodded.
"Anei, I take it you have already heard?" Kagome asked. He nodded, his eyes soft as he looked at her.
"Then there is no need to explain anything. He is no longer allowed to be alone with me or to come to my rooms," Kagome told him.
"Nothing has changed then my lady," He told her. "Except now you are determined to keep him away from you now that he has taken another human," Anei told her. Kagome stopped dead in her tracks.
"It's a human woman? I thought it would be a youkai," Kagome whispered.
"It doesn't matter. I think he took her because of her name. It means 'Taint'. I spoke to another servant of that court and it seems she was kept for times the master was in a less than kind disposition. Inu Yasha must have heard. The only way she can achieve pleasure… Is through pain," Anei explained.
Kagome felt her cheeks grow red. She had heard of people like that in her time, but she had never thought it existed here! And Inu Yasha had sought her out for this exact purpose! Humiliation made her want to cry.
"Don't cry Kagome," Anei said as he pulled her into his embrace. Kagome accepted the hug, holding her tears in check.
"He's not worth it, is he?" Kagome asked.
"No," Anei answered honestly.
"Then I won't cry," She said resolutely as she pulled away from Anei and stood straight, her head high.
"That's a girl," Anei told her. Kagome smiled and they walked down the hall. Her emotions were still whirling around in a sort of daze, but she was determined to make it through the day without crying no matter what.
Because now she knew deep within that he was no longer the same man she had loved. And the man he had become wasn't worth her tears.
Breakfast was fine. Kagome sailed through it much more easily than she had the mid day meal the day before. She even caught both Anei and Sesshoumaru casting approving glances at her. Her mind went back to seeing Sesshoumaru in the moonlight and she blushed once but was able to quickly control it. Inu Yasha never showed up. No one commented on it. Kagome guessed it was one of those court rules. You don't talk about a man's mistress to his wife.
But Kagome caught the pitying glances from some of the women and ignored them. It wasn't like she needed pity. She accepted the fact Inu Yasha had a mistress. It kept him from hurting her while they were making love.
Breakfast quickly ended and Kagome got up gratefully.
"Lady Kagome!" A woman called out. Kagome turned to see a beautiful youkai coming towards her.
"Yes?"
"I am Lady Okibi," The woman said as she caught up and began to walk next to Kagome. "Is it possible to speak in private?" Okibi said with a glance to Anei.
"My guard is present everywhere I am. But you have my word he will not repeat anything you say," Kagome supplied. Lady Okibi smiled, her crimson eyes understanding.
"Then may we go somewhere more private?"
"Of course," Kagome said as she led the way to a small, formal tea room. Anei closed the door and stood outside. Kagome gestured for Okibi to speak.
"Lady Kagome, ever since I arrived yesterday, you have been nothing but kind, despite the fact that you are a miko and we are youkai. The woman your husband took as a mistress was my own maid. I tried to stop it but my husband agreed when your husband bought her. I wanted to ask your forgiveness," Okibi told her. Kagome nodded in understanding and smiled at the youkai.
"It wasn't your fault. Sometimes we women just have to deal with it. Though sometimes I wish I could be more like Sango," Kagome sighed.
"Sango?" Okibi asked looking confused.
"She is one of my old traveling companions. She hasn't been coming down for meals because of her advanced pregnancy, and well, she used to be a taijiya. She will harm no youkai that will not harm her or her friends," Kagome quickly explained.
"I had heard of her. The last of her village, am I correct?" Okibi asked.
"Yes, how did you know?" Kagome asked the youkai.
"Her village is in my lands," Okibi told her.
"Oh Kami, you're the Lo- I mean Lady of the South?" Kagome asked, her jaw dropping. The Lady of the Southern Lands was apologizing to her!
"Yes. It is not so a big a thing. But it is good to know there is a woman in this castle once more," Okibi told her.
"But I'm not-"
"Lady Kagome, until Sesshoumaru takes a wife, you are Lady of the Castle, and a very good representative of the house of the Inu Clan I might add. And at the rate it's going Sesshoumaru will never take a mate. And rumor has it among the servants you only had a week to prepare the castle for this gathering. I commend you, it's wonderful," Okibi told her.
Kagome blushed with the praise and nodded her head. "Thank you. It's been hard, but so far so good," Kagome told the woman. Okibi nodded her head in understanding once again.
"I'm going to retire for now. But thank you, Lady Kagome," Okibi said as she got up and quickly left. Kagome was confused by the youkai's words. What did Okibi mean when she said thank you?
"That went well," Anei said as he walked in. Kagome smiled at him and stood.
"She's very kind," Kagome told him.
"Only to those she favors. She's a tyrant to those she does not. Lady Okibi is one of the last of her kind, so she has learned to put on the mask for the sake of her kindred, lest they be considered weak and easy prey," Anei told her.
"What do you mean?" Kagome asked.
"She is a phoenix. Not exactly a youkai, but similar in scent and powers," Anei explained. Kagome felt questions piling up in her mind. Okibi had felt so much like a youkai! Of course there had been very little jaki, but Kagome had chalked that up to the kindness of the woman.
"It is a little acknowledged fact, something she would rather not make too obvious. Often enough she is mistaken for a youkai, so she lets it go. Lady Okibi is a very complicated person," Anei chuckled.
"Well, at least she's not cruel. And she apologized for what Inu Yasha did. She didn't even have to. I never knew people could be that kind," Kagome said with a sniffle.
"But you should. You are a perfect example of such Kagome," Anei told her s he came closer to her, looking down at her tenderly.
He knew it was selfish, but he had rejoiced when he found out that Inu Yasha had taken a mistress. It meant Kagome would leave him behind, maybe take a lover of her own. Maybe him…
Kagome noticed Anei's form was unusually close and she stepped back with a blush.
"I think I'll go play with the children," Kagome told him as she began to walk for the door.
Anei cursed himself inwardly for making such a mistake. It was much too soon to show his feelings for her. She was still healing from the wounds Inu Yasha had inflicted on her heart.
He followed her, his eyes blank as he hid his emotions.
Kagome quickly found Shippou and Rin playing with Jaken and Mako. The two children cried out in joy when they saw her. Sango and Miroku were sitting on a blanket nearby. Kagome smiled at the scene. It was like a family.
Nostalgia for the old times hit her full force and she tried to fight the tears back. She wanted to see her family again so badly.
'Only another month,' Kagome told herself.
"Mama! Can Rin be my little sister?" Shippou suddenly asked. Kagome felt her jaw drop.
"Can Rin call you mama?" The little girl asked.
"I- I guess it depends on Sesshoumaru," Kagome choked. Tears came to her eyes. Her hastily made plans just went flying out the window, but now…Well, Rin needed her, and she couldn't take Rin to the future.
'I'll go back for visits,' She promised herself.
"Yay! Sesshoumaru will let me! I know it!" Rin exclaimed confidently as she ran off to play a game of tag with Shippou. Kagome walked, dazed, to where Miroku and Sango sat.
"Well Kagome, you may not have had any children, but you still have a beautiful little boy and girl to call your own," Sango said, tears in her eyes.
"Why are you crying?" Kagome asked.
"It's so sweet. They chose you Kagome. Do you know how rare that is in these times? Most children are fostered off to Lords to become strong, but to have a child choose you," Sango trailed off. Kagome nodded, beginning to fully understand what Rin was asking for.
"I hope Sesshoumaru doesn't mind," Kagome whispered.
"If he cares for Rin at all he'll allow it," Miroku told her. Kagome nodded and they began to chat idly as they watched the two children play. She let her thoughts drift over many things. Mainly, how was she going to avoid Inu Yasha and his new mistress?
That night at dinner Kagome was eating at a pastry when Inu Yasha walked in, a woman on his arm.
Kagome felt her spirits drop more than just a few notches. The woman wasn't all that beautiful. Her features were too birdlike, her eyes too small.
'What kind of person am I, judging someone by their looks!' Kagome berated herself.
Inu Yasha stood behind Kagome as if waiting for something. When Kagome didn't even look at him, his fury grew.
"Move aside Kagome," Inu Yasha told her. Kagome moved to the seat Inu Yasha would have ordinarily taken next to Sesshoumaru, thus insulting him. If Inu Yasha had sat in his usual seat, his new mistress would have taken her place at the table. Now Kagome had insinuated she deserved the place closer to Sesshoumaru more than he did.
And everyone began to whisper about it. Kagome had no clue what she had done, only that it had caused everyone to look like vultures at the site of a slaughter.
"Inu Yasha, it is perhaps better that you did not bring that woman with you," Sesshoumaru said in an icy cold voice. Inu Yasha was stirring up trouble just to hurt a woman. Making himself look like a petty fool in the end. Inwardly the taiyoukai cursed the hanyou as he tried to find a way to get the hanyou out of the room without causing too much of a disturbance. Or rumors.
"Bitch!" Inu Yasha snarled when he began to hear the chuckles of the other Lords. He would not be bested by a weak human woman! His hand raised and Kagome looked at him in terror for a moment before her eyes took on a defiant glance.
"Osuwari," She said.
Inu Yasha face planted into the ground and Kagome continued to eat as if nothing had happened, earning an approving glance from both Sesshoumaru and Okibi.
Inu Yasha was trying to get up and cursing Kagome under his breath.
"Anei, please take Lord Inu Yasha to his quarters," Kagome stated as she motioned for a servant to take her plate.
Everyone marveled at the calm demeanor of the miko. In one second she had changed from scared to defiant to regal. Even the motion of her hand to gesture for her guard to take Inu Yasha was elegant and graceful!
"I apologize sincerely for my husband," Kagome told them all after the hanyou had been taken away, his mistress following behind.
Rin and Shippou came running in just as Anei had left.
"Mama! Shippou and I made you these," Rin exclaimed as she handed Kagome a bouquet of flowers.
A moment of awkward silence followed her words. Kagome shot a nervous glance to Sesshoumaru. He looked totally unaffected.
"Thank you Rin, thank you Shippou," Kagome said as she hugged them both and set the bouquet in her lap.
"Go find Mako and get ready for bed. I'll be there to tuck you in," Kagome told them. Rin and Shippou nodded and ran out of the room, oblivious to the stares they were receiving.
"It seems Kagome has taken in another. But I thought she was your ward?" A youkai asked.
"It's obvious. Rin may be Sesshoumaru's ward, but Kagome is a woman, and Rin is a girl. All little girls want a mother, be it by blood or by heart," Okibi stated as she munched on a piece of daifuku.
"Very well said Lady Okibi," Another youkai stated.
But Kagome saw the interested stares, and even some of the angry glares. What had she done to make some of the youkai so angry? Some of the women looked like they wanted to rip her eyes out and eat them for dinner!
But dinner went on without further incident, and Kagome sighed as she quickly escaped. Quickly she tucked the children in and changed into a yukata, then grabbed one of the long strips of cotton that served as towels in this time.
"Anei, I know there are two bathhouses on the premises, and since the Lords and Ladies will be using the one I usually use, please show me to the other," Kagome requested.
"But-" Anei began, then saw her determined gaze. "This way," He said as he began to show her to the bathhouse. Kagome followed, thankful he had decided to lead her there after all.
She arrived and quickly slipped in, relaxing as she walked into the foggy room. She let the yukata slip off and she quickly stepped into the hot waters of the natural spring, a sigh escaping.
"I was not aware anyone came in here save me," Sesshoumaru's voice said. Kagome jumped. His voice had echoed in the room and it was hard to pin point his location.
"Where are you? And why can't I come in here?" Kagome demanded.
"Relax woman, I'm not in the water with you. In fact I was just leaving," Sesshoumaru told her. Kagome relaxed again.
"But it would be wise to ask before you use my personal bathhouse next time," Sesshoumaru taunted.
"Anei never said," Kagome began, then shut her mouth. She didn't want to get her friend in trouble.
"From what the servants say you bathe religiously. Anei probably realized that you wanted a bath and brought you here to avoid the other Lords and Ladies," Sesshoumaru told her. Kagome still couldn't spot him in the foggy room. He made little sound as he moved, but she could have sworn she hear the sound of clothing rustle.
"You're not naked are you?" Kagome hissed.
"Now why would that bother you?" He taunted her.
"It's not right. Now leave," She commanded.
Big mistake.
"Leave? But have you forgotten, this is my own bathhouse Kagome. If I so choose I can throw you out of here without a stitch of clothing," He told her, a chuckle escaping.
"You wouldn't!" Kagome gasped.
"You're right, I wouldn't, not to you at least. But once I did. Some woman had snuck into here, trying to seduce me. But you are not like her," Sesshoumaru said.
"You're right, I'm not that much of a bitch," Kagome snapped, surprising herself by using such a word.
"No, you're too innocent," He said with a chuckle. Kagome felt a blush rise to her cheeks and let her head thump onto the rocks behind it.
"Aren't you leaving?" Kagome asked several minutes later.
No answer. She stood warily, her arms covering her breasts modestly. She looked around and stepped out of the hot spring. Nothing could be seen in the dense cloud of steam that filled the room. She fumbled around, looking for the cloth to dry herself off. What had happened to it? Disorientation took over as she searched, wondering if she had moved so much in the water that she had gotten out of the opposite side f the pool.
She felt fabric, and yanked on it.
"That is not wise," Sesshoumaru's voice cautioned. Kagome let out a sound similar to 'eep!" and stumbled backwards.
She felt herself about to fall into the water when Sesshoumaru's hand grab her flailing arm.
Too late. She fell into the water.
But she took him with her.
"Lady Kagome, are you alright?" Anei's voice said from the outside of the bathhouse.
"I'm fine!" She choked, spitting the metallic tasting water out of her mouth, glaring at Sesshoumaru.
"I can't believe you, you jerk!" Kagome hissed.
"You're the one that tried to use my yukata as a drying cloth," He hissed back, glaring down at her.
Suddenly Kagome noticed his eyes widening as he looked down at her. She looked down and saw that she was totally naked! And he could see everything!
"Oh my god!" She screeched as she splashed down into the water. "Get me my yukata; I'm getting out of here!" She hissed.
Sesshoumaru moved and handed her the yukata.
"Turn around," She hissed.
Instead he stepped out of the water and walked somewhere in the room. Steam obscured her vision to where she could no longer see him. Sighing, she stepped out and quickly pulled on her robe, then put the towel on her hair.
She'd wait until she got to her room to dry off and get dressed.
Sesshoumaru was mentally berating himself once again as he watched Kagome walk out of the bathhouse. Why had he stayed in the first place? It had been a foolish move! But she had challenged him with her words, and he was the Lord of this castle, and he wouldn't back down from the suddenly strong willed, defiant woman.
He heard Kagome muttering something to Anei. He waited for them to leave and quickly slipped out, unnoticed, and went back to his room.
"You didn't tell me it was his personal bathhouse," Kagome muttered under her breath.
"You didn't give me a chance," He responded, confused.
"He was in there and he saw me!" Kagome suddenly wailed.
"WHAT!" Anei growled. Kagome blushed and nodded her head. Anei felt the possessive rage filling him.
Kagome looked at him, scared of his reddening eyes. What was wrong with him?
"Anei," She whispered, scared. He looked down at her, startled. The red began to recede from his eyes.
"What happened?" She asked.
"Nothing," He told her as he began to walk towards her room. Kagome followed quietly, unsure of what was going on. He sat at his usual post in front of her door, and Kagome, too disturbed to sleep, went to her small table covered with papers and began to go over the household accounts.
Authors End Notes: Now, Im tired, and Im going to finally sleep more than three hours at a time in just a few minutes. I need it. I really do. Goodnight everyone!
Thankies To: darkravenkb226, Kyo-Babe, D.C., ilikebagels, Fey Twist and Fibrosis Fate, Vik, Sesshie's Black Dominatrix, Erik and Fae, Youkai Sesshomarulover, Kaiwren, Western Lord'sMate, Nilee, Rogue Socks, windprincess342